If you haven’t had the pleasure of watching a Chris Spencer movie, then you’re missing out.
This talented individual has been gifted with a brilliant sense of humor and has graced us with decades of timeless and revered comedies such as “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood” and “Postal.”
Recently, Chris made a triumphant return to the silver screen with the premiere of his latest comedy masterpiece, “Back on the Strip.” This hilarious film tells the story of retired Las Vegas male strippers who come out of retirement. Chris took on multiple roles as the director, writer, producer, and star of this revealing flick.
During this week’s episode of “Renaissance Man,” Chris, along with some surprise guests, treated us to another unforgettable performance. He began by sharing his inspiration behind making the film.
“So, here’s what happened. I was in Vegas, and as soon as I got off the plane, I saw the sign for ‘Thunder From Down Under,'” Chris reminisced, referring to the popular male dancer show in Sin City.
“I’ve noticed that for the past 20 years, it’s been the same poster. Those guys must be getting old by now!” he chuckled.
His mind started racing, and Chris immediately consulted with his brother-in-law, Adam Rodriguez, who starred in “Magic Mike,” as well as his wife to develop the concept. This collaboration resulted in the creation of “Back on the Strip.”
The premise of the film, which had everyone laughing out loud, attracted big names like J.B. Smoove and Kevin Hart. However, one notable actor who quickly jumped on board was Wesley Snipes, best known for his role as “Willie Mays” Hayes in the iconic film “Major League.”
“The co-producer called and put Wesley on the phone right then and there. ‘Hey, Chris Spencer is right in front of me. He has a movie about these male strippers getting back together after 25 years. What do you think?'” Chris recalled the conversation.
“He immediately said, ‘I’ll do it.’ I was like, ‘That’s all it takes?'”
Chris’s career has been fortunate, with people readily joining his projects without even reading the script. Comedian Gary Owen attests to this, stating, “Chris is one of those guys. When he calls you, you don’t even have to read the script. You just trust that he’s going to make you look good, and the project will be worthwhile.”
Another surprise cameo on “Renaissance Man” this week is Faizon Love, known for his memorable roles in “Friday” and “Elf.” In “Back on the Strip,” Love took on a different challenge, showcasing his singing and dancing skills as a male stripper.
In a lighthearted manner, Love credited his casting to his alleged extensive and devoted dance training. “I got the part because Eddie Murphy can’t dance,” he joked.
In the spirit of the movie, Love shared his top five favorite gentlemen’s clubs on the show this week, including a special establishment in The Bronx that made the list.
Throughout the show, the four of us shared many laughs as we discussed the behind-the-scenes moments and on-stage antics that “Back on the Strip” has produced.
For Chris, who has achieved great success in Hollywood, it’s these interactions that make it all worth it.
“Among all my titles – director, writer, producer – my number one, which I want the world to know, is that I am a comedian,” Chris affirmed. “You can’t be in it for the money. You really have to love this craft.”
Detroit native Jalen Rose is a member of the University of Michigan’s iconic Fab Five, who shook up the college hoops world in the early ’90s. He played 13 seasons in the NBA before transitioning into a media personality. Rose executive-produced “The Fab Five” for ESPN’s “30 for 30” series, authored the best-selling book “Got To Give the People What They Want,” is a fashion tastemaker, and co-founded the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, a public charter school in his hometown.
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